Draft rigging



Feb. 2, 1932.,

D. S. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 30. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l mwN D. S. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGI-NG Feb. 2, 1932.

Filed Nov. 30. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 'i .omiso STATES' DONALD s.

.PATENT raies.

namtows, or' nooansrm, rmwvonx, AssIeNoa ro THE svi-irriteren oomf PANY, or' New Yoan, N. Y., A oonronn'rron or MARYLAND ymsnm mesmo Application le'd November rlhis invention relates to draft rigging, and more particularly to such especially adapted for cars with holsters closely spaced with respect tothe ends thereof.

The principal object of my invention, gen-` erally considered, is the provision of improved draft rigging comprising an integral housing member therefor especlally adapted forrailwayvehicles such as ore cars and tenders in which the bolsters thereof are relatively close to the ends of the car.

An obj ect of my lnvention 1s the provision Iof draft rigging comprisingV a combined casting housing the mechanism thereof and functioning as a striking casting, draft arms or sills, a sill cover plate, backstop, bolster, cen-f ter plate, or some of said members..

Another object of my invention is the provision of draft rigging involvingy draft gear.

enclosed in a hollow housing or casting and adapted for insertion or withdra waly from one end of said castin A further object o? my invention is the Iprovision of an integral casting for enclosing draft gear and provided with a portion functioning as a backstop for receiving buiiing forces from the yoke of said gear, said casting being free from stop lugs and instead being provided with slots' for receiving keys functioning as stop members for cooperation with an associ/ated front follower. A still further object of my inventionis th provision of a draft gear comprising a swivel butt coupler connected with a yoke associated with cushioning mechanism by means of a tion .relating to the particular arrangement and combination of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my 30; 1925. Serial No. 72,304.

`- the arrows;

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, a drawbar or coupler 1 is illusvtrated connected toa yoke 2 for the transmission of draft forces therebetween by means of a draft key 3. Although in the embodiment illustrated, the yoke 2 is of the horizontal type I do not -wish to be restricted to 'such a showing, except where a claim is expressly limited to such construction. In the same way l.' do not wish to be restricted to the employment of a horizontal key 3, such as illustrated, except where such is expressly claimed. Although in the present embodi- .inent, a swivel .buttcoupler 4is shown involving a swivel block 4 provided with forwardly extending fianges engaging complementary rearwardly extending danges from the stem of the coupler, all of said iianges being apertured for receiving a pin 5 servingto pivotally connect the swivel block i and the coupler 1, the edges of all of? said flanges being preferably concentric with the pivot pin and engaging corresponding concentric surfaces on the other member for transmitting buiiing forces therebetween, as in my Patent No. 1,431,717 of Uetober 10, 1922, it is obvious that, within the scope of the claims, other swiveling means may be provided for the coupler or a coupler of another type may be utilized. in the present instar ce, the pivot pin 5 between the coupler and swivel block is shown retained in position by being slotted or grooved at 6 for allowing the draft key 3 to partially intersect the same.

ln the embodiment illustrated, the draft key 3 extends through a slot 7 in thecoupler 1, a corresponding slot 8 in the swivel block 4, the slot 6 in the pivot pin 5, slots 9 in the ioo forward portions of the yoke 2 and slots 10 in a housing member 11 which is preferably formed as a casting enclosing the yoke, coupler stem, swivel block, pivot pin, front follower 12, rear follower 13 `and a cushioning mechanism arranged between said-follower members `and diagrammatically illustrated by dot and dash lines. The construction here disclosed is particularly adapted for railway vehicles or cars in which center sills are not provided extending to the ends thereof so that the casting or housing 11 is rigidly connected to the remainder of the underframe and functions as center or draft sills and the portions thereof provided with the slots 10 for receiving the draft key 3 `function as cheek plates and are formed as usual with flanges 14 'surrounding or framing the slots 10 therethrough and providing adequate bearing area between the key 3 and the housing 11 as well as reinforcing the casting adjacent said slots.

In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 11 is designed particularly for an ore car although it may be utilized for other cars of like construction such as tenders and is provided with integral bolster portions 15 extending outwardly to the sides of the car. It will be noted that these bolster portions are relatively near the outer end 16 of the housing 11 which end is provided with an abutment 17 adapted to function as a striking casting for cooperation with the associated coupler l. Toward the other end of the housing 11 to the rear of the yoke 2 is provided a transverse curved portion 18 functioning as a backstop and with which the rear or U-shaped portion of the yoke 2 engages. 'The backstop portion 18 is preferably curved along-the portion of its inner surface concentrically with the U-shaped portions rality or rear end of the yoke and said curved porin tion is preferably reinforced by flaring or radial upright webs 19 extending in a generally rearward and outward direction, said webs being preferably rigidified by a pluof substantially horizontal web portions 20 therebetween, said web portions 20 bein preferably rovided with opertures 21 for t e purpose of) core removal. All of'said webs 19 and 2O may join with a transverse rear wall or web 22, the outer webs 19, however, being adapted for being rearwardl and outwardly continued to serve as under rame bracing members and' for that purpose being preferably provided with outwardly extending flanges 23 along their lower edges. Al-

though the backstop portion 18 is shown in,

a particular location, it is obvious that such location is determined by the length of the draft gear and the members associated therewith and that, if, for example, the gear were shortened, the backstop would be positioned further forward and4 vice versa.

The forward portion of the housing 11, in

wespen addition to serving as a striking portion 17, may also be provided with diagonally disposed connecting portions 24 for the attachment of the usual diagonal bracing members (not shown) and said portions preferably underlie the rearwardl extending shelf or roof portion 25 whic preferably starts at the striking face 17 and isextended over the full area of the casting, with the exception of hand holes 26 and 27 therein, to provide a roof, which functions as the usual center sill cover plate. From a consideration of Figure 1 particularly, it will be seen that the web or roof portion 25 is also extended transversely over the bolster portions 15 to form the top flanges or webs thereof and may be continued rearwardly beyond the backstop 18 if so desired. Adjacent the forward portion of the web 25, but' extending from the lower edge of the striking portion 17, is a rearwardly extending ange 28 'serving to further strengthen the striking portion 17 and rigidly braced with respect to said striking portion and roof 25 by means of longitudinally disposed upright web or gusset portions 29 which preferably taper at their rear ends and gradually' merge into roof portion 25.

Below the striking portion 17 and the inwardly extending flange 28 are a plurality of lug portions 30 forming pockets 31 therebetween for .the reception of correspondingly formed portions 32 on a coupler carrier iron 33. The carrier iron 33, in addition to being interlocked with the housing ll b the portions 32 thereof engaging in poc ets 31, 's also preferably held in place by means of]1 a transversely extendin bolt 34 which is preferably continued the ull length thereof and at its ends passes through corresponding 10,-,

apertiliresin the side walls 35 of the hous- 1 4 plonra consideration of the'drawings, it will e seen that the side walls 35 of the housing 11, with the exception of the lugs 30 and lugs 36 which underlie the rear portion of the yoke and serve to support and aline the same, are free from lugs, such as are usually provided for transmitting draft forces to the underframe of the car and especially from the front follower member. In lieu of such draft lugs, in the present embodiment, keys 37 and 38 are provided, respectively, extending above and below the butt of the coupler l and adjacent and forwardly of the front follower 12. These keys 37 and 38, shown as preferably substantially horizontal, extend 4through corresponding registering lslots 39 andl 40 in the side walls 35 of the be seen that the front follower 12 is formed with slots or notches 4l and 42 for receiving independently of the front follower 12. The

keys 37 and 38 may be of usual construction, that is, provided with heads and cotters as the key 3, but in the present embodiment they are shown asprovided with retaining cotters at both ends thereof.

The lower wall or door 43 of the housing 11 is preferably formed with an integral center plate 44 of usual construction between the outwardly extending bolster portions l5, said center plate 44 being suitably cored'. at 45l for minimizing the weight thereof and provided with a central aperture 46 for receiving the usual king pin (not shown). The rear portion of the' oor 43 which underlies thev cushioning mechanism is preferably formed substantially horizontal and serves for supporting said mechanism and permitting sliding thereof. The forward portion,

` however, preferably slopes downwardly' and outwardly, as indicated at 47, to form a relan tively large front opening 48 to facilitate insertion and removal of the draft gear. lt will be ap arent that when such an operation is underta en the'carrier iron 33 and bolt 34 are removed as well as the keys 3, 37, and 3d whereupon, as will be obvious, a sufficient opening is provided for allowing the yoke,

follower members, cushioning mechanism, swivel block, coupler butt and pivot pin to u pass therethrough.

ln addition to the hand holes 26 and 27 in the roof of the casting or housing ll, a lower hand hole 49 is provided for permitting access from beneath to the pivot pin 5 and the associated parte, the upper hand hole 26 providing access to the same from above. rlhe hand hole 27 likewise provides for inspection the carrier iron, bolt and the draft and kstop keys. By virtue of the provision of relatively smooth side walls on the housing, without draft lugs, no opposition from such elements is experienced upon application or removal of the gear.

Having now described my invention, what l claim is:

l. ln a draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a yoke, cushioning mechanism positioned between said cou 1er and yoke, and a combined casting provided with a center plate portion, enclosing said members and adapted for receiving the same through an opening in its forward end, said casting be' .ing also provided with a backstop portion,

rearwardl of the center plate port1on, for receiving uding forces from the yoke. f

2. ln a draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a .horizontal yoke, cushioning mechanism associated with said members, and an integral housing for said members ,adapted for receiving the same through an open front end thereof, said housing being formed with inwardly extending lug portions underlying the -rear end of the yoke and adapted for supporting the same in operative position. .i

3. ln a draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a yoke, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke, said mechanicsm in cluding a front follower member, and an ingral housing with top, bottom and side walls, for said members, said housing being provided with registering slots adjacent opposite edges of the follower member and keys inserted through said slots to form stop members for said follower.

4. ln a draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a yoke, cushioning mechanism arranged between said coupler and yoke, a housing for said members formed with an outwardly and downwardly sloping portion providing an enlarged openinoF for the reception and removal of said members and a carrier iron supported adjacent the outer end of said sloping portion and underlying the coupler when in normal position.l

5. fn a draft rigging, in combinaton with a coupler, a yoke, means connecting said coupler and yoke, and an integral housing receiving said members and provided with slotted portions receiving said connecting means for connecting said couplerv and yoke thereto, integral bolster portions extending outwardly therefrom and a backstop portion the front face of which is disposed to the rear of said bolster portions and yoke for receiving bumng forces therefrom.

6. A combined draft and formed with portions serving, respectively, as slotted cheek plates and a backstop, provided with an integral bottom wall for sopor-ting ica y balding member t draft gear and extended to form a center plate. Y A y 7. An integral member of hollow construction for receiving draft mechanism, provided with a bottom wall for supporting associatedr draft gear, and formed with portions serving, respectively, as a. striking member, a

draft arm longitudinally slotted for holding a draft key and a backstop.l

8. An integral draft member of hollow construction for receiving draft mechanism .and provided with a flared opening at its forward end to facilitate the insertion and removal of said mechanism, said member being4 from follower stop lugs and provided with upper and lower registering pairs of slots for the reception of substantially horizontal keys serving as `stop lug members.

11. In railway draft rigging, a drawbar, a

yoke, cushionin. vn iechanism disposed be.`

tween said draw ar and yoke, a key connecting said drawbar and yoke, an integral membervof hollow construction housing said parts and formed with a bottom wall supporting said cushioning mechanism and a forward portion functioning as a striking member, side portions longitudinallyvslotted and receiving the ends of said key, and a rearward 'portion functioning as a backstop for said l yoke.

12. In railway draft rigging, in combina-v tion, a coupler, a yoke, cushioning mechanism disposed between said coupler` and yoke, an integral housing comprisng top, bottom and j side walls and enclosing said members, said housing being provided with registering slots in said side walls, and key vmeans normally received in said slots for connecting said coupler and yoke and providing front stop means for said mechanism.

Intestimony whereof I aix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

